Updated, Feb. 1, 2016: The Alachua County Sheriff's Office released an update this afternoon regarding skeletal remains found Jan. 24.
Working with the University of Florida C. A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory and the District 8 Medical Examiner's Office, sheriff's deputies concluded the deceased is a white male, approximately 5 feet 10 inches, between 40 and 60 years old, according to a press release.
At the time of his death, some time within the last 6 to 24 months, the man was wearing blue jeans and brown work boots.
Anyone with information about the man's identity is encouraged to contact Detective Lance Yaeger at 352-260-7588.
Original story, Jan. 25, 2016: Alachua County Sheriff's deputies are working to identify skeletal remains after they were found Sunday on a local property.
A homeowner in the 5700 block of NW 84th Terrace called authorities Sunday after he was walking through a wooded part of his property and saw the remains. Deputies announced the investigation Monday afternoon.
As of press time, it was unknown how long the remains had been buried, and officials had not been able to determine gender, age or ethnicity, said Alachua County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Art Forgey.
“Anytime you have something like this – an unidentified body, especially a skeletal body – you’re working backwards,” Forgey said.
The remains were taken to the medical examiner’s office for further examination.
“Once we identify it, we can go back in time and try to put the pieces together as to what occurred,” Forgey said.